Toronto Theater Reviews

BWW Reviews: I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE Touches on Human Truths

Angelwalk Theatre, joining forces with the Koogle Theatre Company of Burlington, is reviving I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. It remains a crowd-pleasing delight thanks to the four vibrant performers who take us on a tour of the little moments in life to which we can all relate. In a series of vignettes we follow couples through the trials and tribulations of dating, marriage, raising a family and growing older. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Soulpepper Stages Hilarious BARBER OF SEVILLE

Soulpepper's production of The Barber of Seville is a hilarious night out at the theatre and a hit amongst audiences. (more...)

BWW Reviews: THE BOOK OF MORMON

The Book of Mormon opened in Toronto last Thursday, kicking off a sold-out six week run at The Princess of Wales Theatre. Arguably the most hyped show of the year, Toronto audiences have been clamouring to get tickets to this Tony Award Winning production. BWW was on hand opening night to see if the show does in fact live up to the hype, and we are happy to report that the Mormons are indeed a crowd pleasing bunch. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Strong Cast Brings Out Human Bias and Humor in Panasonic Theatre's CLYBOURNE PARK

Clybourne Park opened this week in Toronto and marks the third offering in the Off-Mirvish season. The show is a remount of the hugely successful Studio 180 production from last year, and its easy to see why Toronto embraced it so fully last time around. A Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner, the show tells a story about race relations, community and neighbourhoods. It takes place in the same Chicago house in two different years, 1959 and and 2009. Boasting a strong cast and brilliant writing, Clybourne Park forces us to examine many of our own personal biases, and makes us laugh at the same time. (more...)

BWW Reviews: LES MISERABLES Movie - Passing the Candlesticks to a New Generation

The long awaited feature film version of Les Miserables opens Christmas Day, twenty five years after it first took the world by storm on a West End stage. Directed by Tom Hooper and starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried, the film made the daring choice of having its actors sing live instead of being recorded in a studio. Die-hard fans of the stage production will likely take issue with some of the directorial (and musical choices) but overall the movie is a solid adaptation of Victor Hugo's beloved tale. (more...)

BWW Reviews: THE SOUND OF MUSIC - Finnie Jesson leads a fine cast in this reproduction of the original 1959 version.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's final show, The Sound of Music, has always had a reputation for being overly sentimental and unbearably sweet. Yet, as originally written, the show has much more of an edge. The Civic Light Opera Company has gone back to the original script by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse and it is very effective when done with straight-forward sincerity, as it is here. * * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5) (more...)

BWW Reviews: THE EXONERATED - An Extremely Moving Piece on the Innocent of Death Row; Plays Montreal's Espace 4001

The Exonerated tells the true stories of six innocent men and women who were sentenced to death. As the separate testimonies unfold a picture is painted of the American criminal justice system and all that is wrong with it. (more...)

Review: Centaur Theatre's GOOD PEOPLE is a Love Letter to South Boston

GOOD PEOPLE has been described as a love letter written by the playwright to his hometown of South Boston or "Southie", and a love letter it most certainly is. The production plays Montreal's Centaur Theatre November 6 thru December 9, 2012. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Richmond Hill's QUEEN FOR A DAY, Starring Alan Thicke

Queen for a Day had its world premiere Friday night at The Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, with a stellar cast including America's Favourite Dad Alan Thicke in the role of Jack Bailey. The show examines the popular American reality show Queen for a Day, which gave everyday housewives the chance to appear on national television and vie to have a wish granted if they became 'Queen for a Day'. Thicke and the rest of the cast are the stand-outs of this particular production, which still needs to correct some clunky dialogue and overly predictable plot lines but shows some real promise down the road. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Delightful 42ND STREET Lights Up the Stratford Stage

Stratford's 42nd STREET is a total delight. Anyone who loves great dancing, fine singing, and creative staging should be enchanted by this production. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Stratford's HIRSCH - A Compelling Study of a Man in Torment

HIRSCH is an impressive story and staging which should be seen at The Festival, as it is the only physical venue where setting and person will clearly merge (more...)

BWW Reviews: Shaw Festival's RAGTIME Dazzles

The Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake offers a dazzling new production of the 1996 musical RAGTIME that makes a case for the show as a great American musical. A terrific cast wins standing ovations nightly at the Festival Theater where the show plays until October 14. (more...)

BWW Reviews: THE MATCHMAKER - The Reason We Have Good Things

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's 60th Season opening week wrapped up on Saturday night with the debut of The Matchmaker, a comedic tale by Thornton Wilder that has never before been presented by The Festival. Funny, touching, witty and poignant, the show both delighted and surprised. Bolstered by an incredibly talent cast, beautiful set design and inspired direction, The Matchmaker is shaping up to be the can't miss show of the summer. (more...)

BWW Reviews: 42ND STREET - A Toe-Tapping Triumph

It's safe to say that Stratford has another musical hit on their hands in 42nd Street, a toe-tapping gem of a show that showcases the incredible performers involved in the company this year. The show also marks the return of Cynthia Dale to the Festival after a five year absence. Featuring an incredible live band, brilliant choreography, gorgeous costumes and one of the most hard-working ensembles you will see on stage today, the show is a reminder of what classic musical theatre should be. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Jerry Herman's DEAR WORLD - Revised & Revived by The Civic Light Opera Company

Each season Toronto's Civic Light Opera Company revises and revives failed and forgotten shows from Broadway's past. This year it's the 1969 Jerry Herman musical DEAR WORLD based on the Jean Giraudoux play THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT. Barbara Boddy and David Haines lead the cast in making the case for this much neglected show. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Rebecca Caine Delivers a Heartfelt, Funny and Touching Evening of Cabaret

This past Friday Canadian favourite Rebecca Caine returned to Toronto for a very special performance at The Green Door Cabaret. She was joined by special guest Byron Nease, up from Los Angeles for one night only to perform for the first time together since their days in the Original Canadian Cast of The Phantom of the Opera. It was a magical night, and a great start to the Green Door Cabaret's upcoming season. (more...)

BWW reviews TARANTARA! TARANTARA! - The story of Gilbert and Sullivan at Fairview Library Theatre

Although they created many popular comic operas, the backstage relationship of W.S.Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan was anything but light-hearted merriment. The story of their tumultuous partnership is the focus of Ian Taylor's play Tarantara! Tarantara!, currently being presented by Stage Centre Productions at Fairview Library Theatre until May 19. (more...)

BWW Reviews: WEST SIDE STORY Sizzles in Toronto

West Side Story is arguably one of the most well known and beloved musicals of all time, and Toronto audiences have a chance to see this gorgeous new production for the next four weeks. Featuring some original Spanish dialogue and gorgeous sets and costumes, the show is fresh, energetic and yet timeless at the same time. (more...)

BWW Reviews: MAN OF LA MANCHA - An Imaginative Staging from The Alexander Singers

A strong trio of leads ushers us into the world of Don Quixote as The Alexander Singers present the Tony-award winning musical MAN OF LA MANCHA at York Woods Library Theatre until May 13. (more...)

BWW reviews CLYBOURNE PARK - a production from Canstage and Studio 180 that is not to be missed!

"Humans are territorial," states one character midway through the second act of CLYBOURNE PARK. That simple line sums up one of the key ideas at the heart of this Pulitzer Prize winning play by Bruce Norris. The play is being given its Canadian premiere in a brilliant production by Canadian Stage Company and Studio 180. (more...)

BWW Reviews: Amicus Productions' PRELUDE TO A KISS is a Magical Romantic Comedy, thru April 21

Amicus Productions concludes their 2012 season with a magical and enjoyable rendering of the Craig Lucas play PRELUDE TO A KISS. (more...)

BWW Reviews: MISS SAIGON - a Moving Production from Curtain Call Players

There was almost as much drama involved in getting Curtain Call Players' spring production of the musical MISS SAIGON to opening night as there is in the show itself. The recent strike by Toronto Public Library staff locked the company out of their usual venue Fairview Library Theatre. Fortunately, at the very last minute the troupe was able to make arrangements to present the show at Glen Rhodes United Church. For the run of this show teh venue has been dubbed the Rhodes Avenue Theatre. (more...)

BWW Reviews: I LOVE YOU BECAUSE - A 'Gem' of a Show at Toronto Center for the Arts Studio Theatre

Angelwalk Theater has come up with a real gem with the romantic musical comedy I Love You Because. The show, playing in the cozy Studio Theater in the Toronto Center for the Arts boasts a top-notch cast, fluid direction, a tuneful score and clever, insightful lyrics. (more...)

BWW Reviews: SONGS IN THE KEY OF STEPHEN - A Feast for Fans of Sondheim and Schwartz

A dazzling revue of songs by the two Stephens - Sondheim and Schwartz - performed by an enthusiastic cast. (more...)

BWW Reviews: ALL SHOOK UP is Frothy Entertainment at Stage West Dinner Theatre

Familiar songs and some lively performances make the production of ALL SHOOK UP at Stage West Dinner Theatre a frothy entertainment. * * * * (out of 5) (more...)